Tenor Men - a kind of a poem.

It began with Coleman Hawkins, Played staccato in his early years. “Bean” mellowed as he grew older, But when he grew old, he grew bolder. ----------- Ben Webster had that big breathy sound, Slightly ragged around the edges. “Frog” used Rico reeds number five, Used number fours - may have still been alive. ---------- Lester Young had no eyes for bombast, Cool, streetwise, long before Miles and Gerry. “Prez” was father and surrogate mother To four great cats – all of them brothers. ---------- “Sheets of sound” you know where I’m at John Coltrane never stood still. “Trane” dug deep, into his soul and his mind Giant Steps. For you, and for me, and for mankind. ---------- Sonny Rollins - mystical as Monk. Woodshedding on Brooklyn Bridge, "Newk" could blow all night long A thousand choruses of the one song. Lance.